State Briefs 12/30/08

Tuesday

Dec 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2008 at 4:40 PM

News from around the state.

Suspicious package closes state buildings

SPRINGFIELD -- Two state government buildings in Springfield were locked down for about two hours late Monday afternoon after authorities discovered a suspicious package addressed to President-elect Barack Obama.

The package was not described as threatening, only suspicious, because of what appeared to be a red, Kool-Aid-type liquid leaking through.

Preliminary tests were inconclusive, said Division Chief Bob Reside of the Springfield Fire Department. Further testing deemed the substance harmless, he said.

The package was then double-bagged and sent to the FBI for additional study, Reside said.

Reside said authorities learned of the package about 3:20 p.m., after it was received by the Illinois Department on Aging.

The package had been sent initially to the Willard Ice Building, which houses the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Reside said he was uncertain why the package had been sent from one building to the other. Henry Haupt, spokesman for the secretary of state’s office, said he couldn’t explain the transfer either but said it is possible people who received the package at the Willard Ice Building had superiors working in the building on East Capitol.

Emergency personnel descended on the area and barricaded Capitol Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. Both buildings were on lockdown until shortly after 5 p.m.

State Journal-Register

Retired judge back on bench

PEKIN -- Retired Tazewell County Judge J. Peter Ault has been called back to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court and will temporarily fill the vacancy left by retiring Judge John Barra.

Ault, who retired in 2006 after nearly 20 years as a judge, will return to Tazewell County Circuit Court beginning Thursday, according to Peoria County Court Administrator John Flynn.

"This has all come together very quickly," Flynn said Monday.

The supreme court made the decision Friday after offering the position to Ault.

Ault will serve through April 30, at which time the supreme court can extend his stay on the bench or find a different replacement to serve until November 2010, Flynn said.

Ault, who lives in Pekin, was first appointed as an associate judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit in 1987. Ault was elected as resident circuit judge of Tazewell County in 2000 and retired Dec. 4, 2006.

Journal Star

Decision pending in double murder

FREEPORT -- Attorneys say a decision is expected soon on a key defense motion in the Melvin Parks, Jr. capital murder case, but that it’s unclear when a trial date will be set.

The motion in question is to suppress certain statements allegedly made by the defendant during police interviews held after the crime. Stephenson County Circuit Judge Michael Bald is expected to rule on this motion in the next week or so, attorneys said Monday.

“We’re awaiting a decision on a motion to suppress statements,” said Debra Schafer, one of Parks’ attorneys. “It’s certainly a significant motion which relates to the admissibility of evidence.”

In addition, the defense recently filed 15 other motions related to issues such as discovery evidence, jury selection, scientific testing, the taking of depositions, and more, said County State’s Attorney John Vogt. A case management conference was held on Monday morning, at which time Judge Bald set a follow-up hearing for 9 a.m. on Jan. 21 to hear arguments related to these additional motions.

Parks, 38, of Freeport is facing murder charges for allegedly killing Louie Rose, 47, and her daughter, Josie Pena, 18, both of Freeport, on April 6. In October, prosecutors revealed that they will seek the death penalty against Parks in this case.